Traffic – The Berlin Spectatorhttps://berlinspectator.com
This is Berlin.Thu, 04 Jun 2020 06:53:16 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1https://berlinspectator.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-logo-berlin-spectator-023-SQUARE-512-2-32x32.jpgTraffic – The Berlin Spectatorhttps://berlinspectator.com
3232159402125Berlin: More Street Fatalities in Spite of Corona-Related Traffic Declinehttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/06/04/berlin-more-road-deaths-in-spite-of-corona-related-traffic-decline/
Thu, 04 Jun 2020 06:47:06 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=21599In spite of the fact that there was far less traffic in Berlin during the first months of the Corona crisis, the number of accident deaths is already high this year. Since January 1st, 2020, twenty-six individuals lost their lives on the streets of the German capital.]]>

In spite of the fact that there was far less traffic in Berlin during the first months of the Corona crisis, the number of accident deaths is already high this year. Since January 1st, 2020, twenty-six individuals lost their lives on the streets of the German capital.

On Wednesday of this week, a 62-year old cyclist was heading north on Petersburger Strasse. At the intersection with Mühsamstrasse, a concrete mixer truck that had moved in the same direction made a right turn. The driver must have overlooked the lady and knocked her down. She died at the scene.

Known Problem

Trucks that make right turns constitute a big danger to cyclists. This year, and in the past decades, several people in Berlin have lost their lives in very similar accidents. The problem is that truck drivers have a limited view. Most trucks are not equipped with devices that alert their drivers when a cyclist approaches on the right of their vehicle.

And cyclists may not be careful enough in situations in which trucks are getting ready to make right turns. Even though they may have the right of way if they want to continue straight. they should wait behind the truck until it has moved away.

All Too Familiar

After yesterday’s horrific accident, paramedics had to treat several people on the scene who had suffered shocks, including the 58-year-old driver of the truck. He was taken to a hospital. The accident happened at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, which was International World Bicycle Day.

To paramedics and police officers, deadly accidents of this kind are all too familiar. In Berlin, a city of 3.7 million inhabitants, they happen all the time. Just some two weeks ago, on May 18th, 2020, a 47-year-old cyclist was run over and killed by a truck making a right turn in Berlin’s Lichtenberg district.

Eight Deaths Among Cyclists

Since January 1st, six more cyclists died. In two cases, they were knocked down by trucks making right turns, in one it was a bus. In yet another case, the victim got hit by a passenger car and two of the victims fell from their bikes and suffered deadly injuries. The total number of cyclists who lost their lives on the streets of Berlin this year rose to 8 yesterday.

In addition, nine pedestrians have been killed in accidents since this year began, five motorcyclists, two passengers in cars and two other traffic participants. All in all, 26 people have died so far. Considering the fact that the Corona crisis decreased Berlin’s street traffic considerably, especially in March and April, this number is very high.

A silent vigil will be held at the scene of yesterday’s deadly accident at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Afterwards, a bicycle protest will be moving from there to the Ministry of Transport. The organizers, the NGO Changing Cities, are demanding more measures designed to avoid deadly accidents of this kind.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income.As of May 7th, 2020, we made an average of 74 Euro per month since starting the project, which is far from enough.Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. If you like what we do and you want to support us, you can do soby clicking here(Paypal).Thank you so much!

In Germany, it just got easier to lose one’s driver’s license for traffic violations. From today, much higher fines for speeding and other contraventions apply.

Speeders in Germany will need to pile up even more banknotes on the table for parking at the wrong spot, for speeding in cities, towns and village or on highways and freeways. In February, a substantial increase of fines was approved by the Bundesrat on February 14th, 2020. It kicks in today.

For instance, parking on a spot for electric vehicles with a conventional one, or on a parking spot for handicapped people without a certificate of disability costs 55 Euro. The fines for speeding partially doubled.

Speeding Fines for Highways and Freeways

Up to 10 km/h faster than allowed: 20 Euro

11 to 15 km/h: 40 Euro

16 to 20 km/h: 60 Euro

21 to 25 km/h: 70 Euro and 1 point in the traffic offender database

26 to 30 km/h: 80 Euro and 1 point

31 to 40 km/h: 120 Euro and 1 point

41 to 50 km/h: 160 Euro and 2 points

51 to 60 km/h: 240 Euro and 2 points

61 to 70 km/h: 440 Euro and 2 points

More than 70 km/h: 600 Euro plus 2 points

The Points System

In Germany, drivers who accumulate 8 points in the traffic offender data base lose their driver’s license for 6 months. Once it reaches 7 points, the authorities are obliged to warn the individual about an imminent loss of his or her license in case of another violation the penalty for which includes a point.

From today, exceeding the maximum speed on highways or freeways (B-roads and ‘motorways’ in British English) by 26 to 40 km/h once means the driver will lose his or her driver’s license for a while. Before, this kind of harsh penalty applied after the second case in one year.

Within cities, speeding fines just doubled as well.

Speeding fines Within Cities, Towns and Villages:

Up to 10 km/h faster than allowed: 30 Euro

11 to 15 km/h: 50 Euro

16 to 20 km/h: 70 Euro (bislang 35 Euro)

21 to 25 km/h: 80 Euro and 1 point

26 to 30 km/h: 100 Euro and 2 points

31 to 40 km/h: 160 Euro and 2 points

41 to 50 km/h: 200 Euro and 2 points

51 to 60 km/h: 280 Euro and 2 points

61 to 70 km/h: 480 Euro and 2 points

More than 70 km/h: 680 Euro and two points

On top of it all, the fines for certain parking violations or for causing noise or unnecessary pollution were increased substantially too. Blocking the view on streets for other drivers by parking too close to intersections or other critical spots now costs 35 Euro. Blocking fire fighters by parking in fire rescue paths is 55 Euro.

Parking in the second row is 55 to 80 Euro, depending on the question whether a traffic obstruction is being caused or not. The fine for causing more noise and pollution than necessary is 80 Euro, and the one for entering a low-emission zone with the wrong vehicle is 100 Euro.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>19794Berlin: More Accidents, Less Traffic Deathshttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/03/25/berlin-more-accidents-less-traffic-deaths-1/
Wed, 25 Mar 2020 07:37:27 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=17682On the streets of Berlin, the number of accidents rose by two percent in 2019, compared to the year before. But less people died. The German capital's police department just released the numbers.]]>

On the streets of Berlin, the number of accidents rose by two percent in 2019, compared to the year before. But less people died. The German capital’s police department just released the numbers.

Berlin has been growing rapidly for a while now. This means the number of traffic participants has been increasing as well. There are more cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians. Last year, a new means of transport was added, namely the e-scooter.

Prevention Work

The number of accidents on the streets of Berlin has been increasing for that reason. In 2019, police were called to crash scenes every three and a half minutes. Police Chief Barbara Slowik’s authority was very busy. A total of 147,306 accidents were counted, two percent more than in 2018, in spite of all the efforts to counter that trend.

Barbara Slowik is Berlin’s Police Chief. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Prevention is something Berlin’s police is constantly working on. It is waging war against speeding drivers. New zones with a maximum speed of 30 km/h (17 MPH) were introduced. As it turns out these measures were not enough to get the number of accidents down.

Forty Traffic Deaths

Statistically, there were 353 accidents with material damage per day in Berlin last year. A total of 17,797 individuals were injured and 40 died. In 2018, 45 people had died on the streets of Berlin, but every victim is one too many. The police department wants to get a lot closer to zero victims.

Three in four fatalities in 2019 were among the weakest traffic participants, namely bicyclists or pedestrians. According to the police, “misconduct towards pedestrians” and speeding were the cause in most fatal accidents. “Unprotected traffic participants” would remain the focus for Berlin’s police this year, a statement said.

A Million Speed Violations

The speeding issue is rather grave. Last year, as many as 1,149,405 speed violations were registered and the users fined or punished otherwise. A lot of traffic checks the police department conducted were concentrating on speeding violations, others to mistakes drivers make while taking turns. Especially trucks that make right turns are a danger to the lives of bicyclists.

In 2019, there was one crash every three and a half minutes.

More speed traps were installed in Berlin. Those have three advantages: They catch speeding drivers, they have a deterrent function and they generate a lot of income. In 2018, Berlin made 3,681,928 Euro (4,062,013 Dollars or 3,217,175 Pounds) with its stationary and movable speed traps in spite of big investments into new ones. How much the city generated in 2019 is not known at this moment.

Illegal Races

Police also fought against illegal car races in the city. Their number increased by one third. As many as 362 legal proceedings were initiated against those responsible in 2019. A total of 186 vehicles and 197 drivers licenses were confiscated.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>17682Germany: Road Deaths Reach Lowest Level in 60 Yearshttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/02/27/germany-road-deaths-reach-lowest-level-in-60-years/
Thu, 27 Feb 2020 15:00:37 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=16016The good news is that the number of road deaths in Germany has reached its lowest point since 1960. On the other hand, every victim is one too many.]]>

The good news is that the number of road deaths in Germany has reached its lowest point since 1960. On the other hand, every victim is one too many.

In 2011, the German government was determined to decrease the number of road deaths substantially. Until 2020, it was supposed to drop by 40 percent. It did not happen, but there is a 20 percent decrease. Last year, 3059 people died in traffic accidents, more than eight per day. That number is a success, and it is not, at the same time.

High Rate in the 1950s

Germany’s Federal Office of Statistics says, there had been 216 less road deaths in 2019 than in 2018, which amounts to a decrease of 6.6 percent. What this means is that the number of traffic-related deaths has never been lower, since these statistics were generated and kept in 1960.

In the early 1950s, only years after Nazi Germany was finally defeated, not too many Germans could afford cars. Still, the number of deaths on the roads of the young Federal Republic of Germany was a lot higher than it is today. It stood at around 11,000 per year.

No Seat Belts

In those days, seat belts were not mandatory. Most car models were not even equipped with them. There were no ABS systems, no airbags, no driving assistants, no nothing. Then, in the early 1970s, the number of road deaths reached its peak at more than 20,000 per year. This was when the Bonn Bundestag and the government knew they had to do something.

Seat belts in new cars became mandatory. The maximum alcohol level for anyone behind the wheel was set to 0.8 (0.5 since 2001). Wearing the mandatory seat belts was required by law in 1984, when the road death rate had already dropped below the 1953 level. It increased again right after Germany’s reunification. Then it slumped, along with the number of injured accident victims. In 2019, the latter stood at 384,000, three percent less than a year before.

Not Good Enough

While the number of fatalities and injuries dropped, there were far more accidents, namely a total of 2.7 million, which is an increase of 1.9 percent compared to 2018. In 300,200 accidents, people were either killed or injured or both. From January to November of 2019, less motorbike riders were killed than the year before. Nobody seems to know why, but this aspect is obviously good news too.

Still, some experts say the new numbers were not good enough. More needed to be done. Just by enforcing the existing rules, the number of traffic-related deaths could be decreased further. Some say the fines for traffic violations were too low.

Right-Turn Accidents

The weakest traffic participants, bicyclists, need more safety. Every year, too many are killed, for instance in right-turn accidents, because truck drivers do not see them coming, and because the cyclists themselves are not careful enough. Technical assistants which could resolve part of the problem are not mandatory yet. E-scooter and e-bike riders need to be protected more as well, against cars and trucks, but also against themselves.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>16016Germany: Berlin Enters ‘Taxi War’https://berlinspectator.com/2020/02/25/germany-berlin-enters-taxi-war/
Tue, 25 Feb 2020 17:23:09 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=15903In Germany, Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer wants to deregulate so-called ride-sharing services like Uber. His plans anger the taxi business. Late in the game, the city state of Berlin suddenly wants to have its say on the matter too.]]>

In Germany, Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer wants to deregulate so-called ride-sharing services like Uber. His plans anger the taxi business. Late in the game, the city state of Berlin suddenly wants to have its say on the matter too.

In the past months, taxi drivers all over Germany have protested against Minister Scheuer’s plans to deregulate Uber and similar services. At this stage, their legal status as ride-sharing services is very different from that of taxis, which also means that different rules apply.

Back to Base

While taxis may pick up any passengers they want, including those who are waving at them on the street, those who call taxi companies’ offices and those who order them online, Uber and others can not. In their case, passengers can order them through apps only.

Once a taxi driver has taken one passenger to a destination, he or she can pick up the next passenger anywhere. Uber drivers and those who work for similar services need to return to their base, by law, before they accept the next order and leave again, to pick up their next passenger.

Decreasing Income

Minister Scheuer wants to modernize the law, and therefore the way people in Germany move from A to B in cars that are not theirs. The rather weak taxi syndicates say an approach of that kind would kill the taxi business. Of course the taxi drivers, especially those who run their own businesses, agree.

There are more than 8000 taxis in Berlin. Their drivers say their income in the past years had decreased by up to 40 percent, because of Uber and other ride-share services that keep on gaining popularity. Giving them even more rights would end the taxi driver profession, they say.

Protecting the Taxi

Suddenly, years into the ‘taxi war’, the Berlin Senate wants to be included in the discussion, according to the German-language ‘Berliner Zeitung’ daily. The paper quotes Berlin’s Transport Senator Regine Günther who says she intends to protect and preserve the taxi business. She wants cities and municipalities to be allowed to regulate competitors like Uber.

Senator Günther’s approach sounds even stricter than the status quo because she wants local authorities to have the right to decide how many ride-share vehicles are on the streets and where they are allowed to operate. This is pretty much the opposite of what the federal Ministry of Transport seems to have in mind. While Scheuer messed up his Autobahn Toll project badly, he is taking his time on the taxi subject.

Regine Günther intends to discuss the matter in the Berlin Senate, the ‘Berliner Zeitung’ reports. Later, the city state might take it to the Bundesrat, the legislative body that represents the federal states within Germany.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>15903Germany: Major Traffic Jams Expected this Weekendhttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/02/19/germany-major-traffic-jams-expected-this-weekend/
Wed, 19 Feb 2020 07:52:27 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=15474In some federal states within Germany, vacations are coming up. In others, they will end. Also, the carnival season in parts of western Germany usually makes people travel. Traffic jams are a foregone conclusion.]]>

In some federal states within Germany, vacations are coming up. In others, they will end. Also, the carnival season in parts of western Germany usually makes people travel. Traffic jams are a foregone conclusion.

This coming weekend, from February 21st to 23rd, 2020, hitting the Autobahn or other roads in Germany will not be a good experience. The General German Automobile Association (ADAC) just raised the traffic jam alarm. In many regions, it will be hard to make headway.

Vacations in South

Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the two southernmost federal states, will be on school vacations starting on Saturday, just like Italy and most of the Netherlands. At the same time, vacations will end in Mecklenburg-Hither Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony. These aspects, plus the fact that the carnival usually makes people move in Germany’s western part, point towards a lot of vehicles on Germany’s roads.

On top of it all, skiers will want to hit the slopes in Bavaria and Austria this weekend and go back home afterwards. All of this combined means things will not look too good on the roads, especially on routes used to get to the Alps and across the entire Autobahn network.

The ADAC says using regular roads will not help too much either, because many other vacationers will be developing that idea too. Travelling in the early morning or in the late evening might help vacationers reach their destinations a little faster.

In skiing areas abroad, even more traffic jams have to be expected. This applies in Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy.

The ADAC reminds drivers to open rescue lanes in accident-related traffic jams, for police. ambulances and firefighters. This means anyone on the left lane needs to move left while all drivers on the other lanes have to move right. That way there will be enough room for emergency vehicles.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

Police in Berlin will conduct thorough traffic checks this week. They intend to concentrate on various kinds of violations.

Drivers in Berlin should expect to be stopped by the traffic police this week, especially if and when they make mistakes on the streets of the German capital. Between today and February 21st, 2020, officers will be spread all over the city, watching intersections, bike lanes and other spots.

The Berlin police department says its officers will mainly concentrate on these aspects:

> Mistakes While Making Turns

Many drivers make dangerous mistakes when they make turns. During left turns, oncoming traffic still has the right of way at many intersections. Pedestrians need to be watched as well, since they might be crossing the street the drivers intends to turn into.

Berlin has a big drug and alcohol problem. Many stoned or drunk individuals sit down behind the wheel, endanger everyone and cause accidents.

> Speeding and Illegal Races

Speeding is one of the major issues on the streets of Berlin. Pedestrians have been killed by participants of illegal car races in the city, and by speeding individuals who believe laws do not apply to them. This week, police might catch more violators than they usually do.

> Way to School

Police will also check traffic around schools in order to make sure the way to school for kids is safe. Dangers are supposed to be identified and eliminated.

> More Problem Areas

On top of it all, the Berlin police department intends to deal with drivers who ignore red lights, those who use cell phones while driving and people who break rules in Berlin’s bicycle streets. E-scooter riders will be checked as well. For instance, they often ride on sidewalks, even though it is forbidden by law.

Parking in no-parking zones is yet another big issue, especially in Berlin. Illegal parking slows down traffic even more, it obstructs public transport and endangers bicyclists.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>15388The Berlin Perspective: We are the Worst Drivershttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/02/03/the-berlin-perspective-we-are-the-worst-drivers-2/
Mon, 03 Feb 2020 06:31:00 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=6622Berliners are great people. Many are kind, smart, they respect others, they would talk to any stranger on the street and they have a sense of humor. Well, the opposite kind is wide spread too. But there is one thing we Berliners seem to have in common: We are terrible drivers.]]>

Berliners are great people. Many are kind, smart, they respect others, they would talk to any stranger on the street and they have a sense of humor. Well, the opposite kind is wide spread too. But there is one thing we Berliners seem to have in common: We are terrible drivers.

Have you noticed something on the Autobahn? These people who never leave the fast lane on the left are always Berliners. They can have 8 kilometers (5 miles) of room on the right lane, where they are supposed to be, but they won’t let you overtake them. Its’s not because they would mind if anyone overtook them. The problem is that they have no clue about driving.

It’s Always Us

Have you noticed something else? The driver who does not leave enough room in narrow streets, the one who almost crashes into you while making a right turn because he has the inner urge to take that wide berth to the left first, is always a Berliner. Who is that contemporary who always forgets to turn off his high beam headlights, even in the city? A Berliner. It’s always the Berliners. It’s us.

There are several types of bad drivers in Berlin:

The 3-series BMW guy. He is usually short and can hardly look over the steering wheel. His vehicle is loud and low. He drives like a moron.

The eco-friendly guy. He drives a tiny vehicle. Looking at him shows he needs to concentrate on driving so much that he forgets about driving.

The delivery van prick: He is the kamikaze style guy and just does not care about anything. This individual would even cut off the Chancellor’s motorcade or his own grandmother, just to advance a few feet.

The Autobahn guy. This guy never finds the right lane. He was mentioned above.

The parking master, who would just leave his vehicle on the sidewalk, since he knows the police are busy chasing crooks.

Mr. Perfect. He does everything right in traffic, but nobody notices because of all of those bad drivers around him.

The problem is that West Berliners never had the opportunity to learn how to drive, because they would be stopped by a big fat wall every few meters. And East Berliners were forced to drive cardboard vehicles they actually called cars.

Those younger Berliners do not own cars, but rent one once a year. Because they drove their parents’ car all the way around the block once, in 2014, they believe they are true driving masters.

The ground rules:

Get off the left lane.

Baseball caps, worn the wrong way around, do not make you cool. No, not even in a 3-series BMW with a huge rear wing nobody needs or wants to see.

Leave some room for oncoming traffic in narrow streets.

There are a few million other drivers around you. Be nice and show some respect.

This is Berlin. Behave accordingly.

By the way: Berlin’s lady drivers seem to be doing quite well, in comparison. Congrats, girls!

Are there even worse drivers than Berliners? Oh, yes. Those whose number plates start with three letters, including ‘LDS’.

]]>6622Germany’s Autobahn: The Race is Overhttps://berlinspectator.com/2020/01/25/germanys-autobahn-the-race-is-over-2/
Sat, 25 Jan 2020 08:12:00 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=1213For now, Germany continues to be the only country that does not have a general speed limit on its freeways, the famous 'Autobahn'. While Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer stubbornly rejects a speed limit, it is clear that it will be coming soon anyway.]]>

For now, Germany continues to be the only country that does not have a general speed limit on its freeways, the famous ‘Autobahn’. While Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer stubbornly rejects a speed limit, it is clear that it will be coming soon anyway.

Climate protection is nice, unless you want to test your 911’s kickdown. The acceleration that 500 horsepower engine develops presses you into the seat, with g-forces comparable to those experienced by Concorde passengers before that bird was grounded for good.

Racing Hotshot

All of those windmills erected alongside the Autobahn, the cows on the pastures and the rye fields race by. And no, the object you see in the rear mirror is not closer than it appears. Not in this case, because you are driving the 911, while the individual you just overtook at 250 km/h (155 mph) is sitting in a bloody Toyota Corolla.

He is ordinary, you are a hotshot. He is a snail, you are roadrunner, or the ‘accelerati incredibilus’. He will arrive in Hamburg in about 6 hours from now, you will do it 3. He will be overtaken by everyone, you will not be passed by anyone. He drives a Corolla? Seriously? What a boring contemporary.

For now, the Autobahn race is still on. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Maybe. Except his Corolla will consume 4.5 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (62 miles), while your Porsche is far more thirsty. It sucks propellant out of that gas tank like a jet fighter. That kickdown and your speed make you use at least 30 liters per 100 km, meaning you will need a refill in an hour, once you killed the first 250 kilometers on the way to Hamburg.

The Right Stretch

Not only does that Toyota driver, the one you just called an imbecile, spend far less on gasoline, he won’t even need any refill before he reaches his destination. Also there is something called the environment. It will thank that “bearded eco jerk”, but it won’t thank you.

For now, Germany’s Autobahn is a racetrack, at least the parts without any speed limit. Racers also need space. Nobody expects to accelerate his or her Audi RS8 or BMW 760i to 150 mph during rush hour or on the first summer vacation day. It has to be the right stretch at the right time.

Today, mostly male American tourists come to Germany in order to race. It’s called Autobahn tourism. So they rent an M5 and go Porsche-hunting. Of course they tape the entire thing and upload it to Youtube. You want to hit the Autobahn and race? Do it right now, because it will be over soon.

Sensitive Subject

The European Union has set climate protection goals every member state needs to reach, and the Germans intend to try hard to do so. For that reason, the Berlin government cooperates with a commission called ‘National Platform for the Future of Mobility’, which came up with three recommendations last year:

Introduce a mandatory electric vehicle quota

Raise the gasoline and Diesel taxes even more

Impose a speed limit on the Autobahn

While the second suggestion is part of the so-called ‘climate package’ the Berlin government pushed through the Bundestag a few months ago, Autobahn speed limits are a sensitive subject in Germany. The discussion is definitely not new. When the Saudis pulled the oil plug in 1973, the Bonn government discussed the matter and the green movement, which later developed into the Green party, demanded a 100 km/h (62 mph) limit.

The Auto Industry’s Will

Most German drivers were furious. The General German Automobile Association (ADAC) demanded “unlimited speed driving for free citizens”. On top of it all, the auto industry rejected any speed limit, saying it needed to be able to show the world what their products on four wheels could do.

Why would anyone give a damn what the German auto industry says? Well, because 7.7 percent of the country’s economic output is connected to it, and more than 800,000 people in Germany work for car manufacturers or their suppliers. Germany will do anything, including just swallowing the Diesel scandal, to make the auto industry happy.

But things are changing, including the climate. Today, climate change is not just something muesli-munching environmentalists talk about, but everyone does. The conservatives discovered ecology years ago and they want to appear greener than the Greens. Now something has to happen. But it is a thin red line.

Not Much Headway

The commission which did research and delivered conclusions believes that, in combination with additional measures in areas other than traffic, the three steps mentioned might help slash the greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, if they are being implemented by 2023.

In Berlin, the government is afraid it might have to pay huge fines to the European Union if the pollution in Germany does not decrease drastically. Since 1990, not too much headway has been made. Therefore Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government coalition did use some of the commission’s suggestions for the ‘climate package’.

Like in most E.U. countries, a 130 km/h limit (81 mph) will most likely be imposed on racers rather soon. Only the country with the worst roads, the oldest cars, the worst drivers and one of the highest road death rates in all of the E.U., Bulgaria, has a 140 km/h speed limit on its freeways.

Crumbling Support

In spite of it all, Germany’s Minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer, has rejected the commission’s ideas. “Demands which cause annoyance and burden while endangering our prosperity will not become reality”, he told the ‘Bild’ tabloid in 2019. “I reject them.” Yesterday a spokesperson for his ministry stated Scheuer wanted “more intelligent” solutions.

His ally is the Berlin Bundestag, which rejected another attempt by The Greens to get an Autobahn speed limit in October. But those who insist on it are becoming stronger. One of them is one of Scheuer’s colleagues, Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. On Friday she said she hoped Scheuer would be convinced.

There was an aspect that made her more optimistic: The powerful ADAC just threw its rejection of an Autobahn speed limit over the guardrail, meaning Scheuer cannot count on the association anymore, the one which has always stood for “freedom” on Germany’s roads. His support is crumbling. Besides, he may not remain in office much longer because of the Autobahn toll disaster he caused.

Majority for Speed Limit

Whether Scheuer stays or not, the speed limit will come rather sooner than later. It is a foregone conclusion, also because Germany is entering the age of electric vehicles. Racing those does not make sense because it decreases their range substantially. A limit would also improve the traffic flow on the Autobahn and reduce stress.

There is yet another important aspect: According to recent polls, two thirds of all Germans support a speed limit.

By the way: The publication you are reading, The Berlin Spectator, was established in January of 2019. We have worked a whole lot, as you can see. But there has hardly been any income. This is something we urgently need to change. Would you consider contributing? We would be very thankful. Our donations page can be found here.

]]>1213Berlin: Günther Wants to Get Rid of Cars in City Center by 2030https://berlinspectator.com/2020/01/22/berlin-gunther-wants-to-get-rid-of-cars-in-city-center-by-2030/
Wed, 22 Jan 2020 07:13:01 +0000https://berlinspectator.com/?p=14025Berlin's Environment and Transport Senator, the Green politician Regine Günther, wants to ban cars with combustion engines from the center of Berlin within ten years. By 2035, she wants to get rid of them in the entire city. Critics slammed the plan.]]>

Berlin’s Environment and Transport Senator, the Green politician Regine Günther, wants to ban cars with combustion engines from the center of Berlin within ten years. By 2035, she wants to get rid of them in the entire city. Critics slammed the plan.

Members of the CDU, the conservative opposition in the city state of Berlin, the extremist right-wing ‘AfD’ and even the Greens’ coalition partner SPD have criticized plans put forward by Environment and Transport Senator Regine Günther. She intends to ban cars from the area inside Berlin’s so-called ‘S-Bahn Train Ring’ by 2030, and from the entire city five years later.

City Toll Included

According to representatives of the Social Democrats, the dates are not viable. Within Governing Mayor Michael Müller’s three-way center-left government coalition, Senator Günther’s plan will be discussed towards the end of this month. “Only a person who knows Berlin’s reality from looking at it from her official car will demand driving bans from 2030”, the CDU politician Oliver Friederici told German-language media.

On top of a ban for cars with combustion engines, Regine Günther supports a city toll. According to her idea, an expansion of Berlin’s public transport system could be funded with the income. An increase of parking fees in the center of Berlin is another measure Senator Günther wants to implement.

In addition, Günther’s plan includes a ban for heating systems based on oil. At the end of next year, she wants to implement this step. All newly constructed buildings will need to have solar panel systems installed, according to the Senator’s ideas. Some of the measures she is demanding, such as this one, have been discussed before. Berlin intends to decrease its CO2 emissions substantially. By 2050, they are supposed to be 85 percent lower than they were in 1990.

Improvements for Pedestrians

On Tuesday, the Senate decided to lay a draft law before the Berlin House of Representatives which would improve the situation for pedestrians in the German capital. It is an addition to the existing mobility law. According to the Senate, the draft law “sets standards for the entire country, regarding the enhancement of pedestrian traffic.”

“With this law, pedestrian traffic in the city has a much higher significance”, Senator Regine Günther said. It was the basis for noticeable improvements “for the weakest traffic participants.” The Senate says Berliners cover about one third of their movement in the city by walking. Pedestrian traffic also was the most important conveyor to public transport.

The draft law includes the following measures:

The extension of sidewalks and the construction of “islands” for pedestrians on Berlin’s streets

A prolongation of green phases for pedestrians at traffic lights

The creation of spaces on which car traffic does not play a big role anymore, including pedestrian zones, “playing streets” and “bicycle streets”

The removal of detours for pedestrians need to take in order to cross streets at intersections

An improved illumination of sidewalks and bike lanes, especially in the outskirts of Berlin

Making the way to school safer for Berlin’s kids

The employment of more officials at the Senate’s Traffic Administration who will be responsible for pedestrian traffic

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